Important question about Shankara

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends

 

I came across a book by Linda Johnsen

Excerpted from Daughters of the Goddess:

The Women Saints of India, by Linda Johnsen

Here is section thats confusing me and shocking about Shankara

 

"Shankara was one of the first yogis to widely publicize the idea

that the

world is maya, an illusion, and that we are in reality all one. For

most of

his life, though, he discounted the feminine principle, considering

anything

to do with matter or desire a lower order of being.

 

One day late in his short life, as he was entering a Shiva temple, he

found

an hysterical low-caste woman blocking his way. She was standing over

the

corpse of her dead husband, sobbing wildly. Shankara found the scene

both

distasteful and inauspicious. "Get out of my way!" he commanded.

 

The illiterate woman looked at him suspiciously. "Aren't you the

teacher who

says that everything is Brahman [the ultimate, supreme Reality],

everything

is God, there is no impurity anywhere?" she retorted bitterly. "If I

am not

impure, why should I get out of your way? If I am the all pervading

reality,

how can I get out of your way?"

 

Shankara was too shocked to reply.

 

The woman was not done with him. "Your mighty Brahman is no more than

this!"

she shouted, pointing to her dead husband.

 

In that moment the great thinker's mind burst open. He remembered one

of the

most dramatic images from India's vast religious iconography: the

raging

goddess Kali stamping on the corpse of the God Shiva. Without Her

power,

Shiva himself is not able to stir, say the Shaktas, the worshippers

of the

Goddess. In that fraction of a second, Shankara, realized that in

neglecting

the Goddess, he had missed the very essence of life. Imagining

Brahman as

totally abstract, unalloyed, unmoving consciousness, he had forgotten

the

fecund, creative, active living aspect of reality, the feminine. Now

Kali

herself was manifesting to remind him of her glory.

 

To the horror of his disciples, Shankaracharya got down on his knees

and

clasped the woman's feet, thanking her for the lesson. "No you are not

impure. It was my mind that was impure. I have never met a teacher

greater

than you."

 

Shankara gave up writing philosophy and spent the last few years of

his life

composing ecstatic poems to the Goddess, some of which are still

regarded as

among the most beautiful verses in the Sanskrit language."

 

Is this true,this contradicts the same incident where Shiva comes in

the form of a Hunter holding 4 dogs(representing the four vedas)

And didnt Shankara compose 'Soundarya Lahari' much earlier to this

incident ?

 

thanks

Ganesh

[Guest guest]

No. The information quoted is not correct.

 

It should be noted, however, many legends associated with shankara

(even the traditional ones) can not be verified either. First of all

people are not even in agreement in accepting his date.

 

Consider the following:

 

1. kanakadhaara stotram is one of the first works of shankara --

addressed to mahalaxmi.

 

2. There are many vedic suukta-s which adore God in feminine form.

For instance kenopanishad umA imparts jnAna to indra and shankara has

commented on it. See

http://www.escribe.com/religion/advaita/m12155.html in this regard.

It is not something new to adore God in feminine form.

 

3. According to some traditions only the latter part of

saundaryalaharI is due to Acharya. First part is by Lord shiva. This

idea of shankara resorting to bhakti during his last days has another

version of vaishhNava propaganda (based on bhaja govindam). YOu quote

shows, even shAkta-s are not lacking in twisting the stories to their

favor.

 

4. There are two classes of western books. A) Which doubts most of

the works ascribed to Adi shankara and say they are latter additions.

and B) New age folks, typically they believe first thing they hear

and most of them good intentioned but have no clue. A is by

indologists and professors. In any case, one has to use his/her

intellect and logic and see what holds water.

 

5. It is better to read saundaryalahari for what its worth and

discard the maze of opinions on it. We are not going to get moxa (or

even a penny) just by believing it is by shankara or otherwise.

 

 

6. But from our stand point we have to learn, understand and use it

for daily meditation/prayer.

 

 

7. In general, book such as you have referred to should be read with

caution. Probably take the few good points and discard the rest.

 

8. shankara as yogi is another legend. Even people like Swami

Yogananda quote that he got initiated by mahavatar babaji. Which is a

mere claim and cannot be verified.

 

Best thing to do in this great age of misinformation is what

valluvar says "whatever, from whomever you hear, analyze and see the

inner meaning and its true purport"

 

 

 

, "dganesha" <dganesha> wrote:

> Dear Friends

>

> I came across a book by Linda Johnsen

> Excerpted from Daughters of the Goddess:

> The Women Saints of India, by Linda Johnsen

> Here is section thats confusing me and shocking about Shankara

>

> "Shankara was one of the first yogis to widely publicize the idea

> that the

> world is maya, an illusion, and that we are in reality all one. For

> most of

> his life, though, he discounted the feminine principle, considering

> anything

> to do with matter or desire a lower order of being.

>

> One day late in his short life, as he was entering a Shiva temple,

he

> found

> an hysterical low-caste woman blocking his way. She was standing

over

> the

> corpse of her dead husband, sobbing wildly. Shankara found the

scene

> both

> distasteful and inauspicious. "Get out of my way!" he commanded.

>

> The illiterate woman looked at him suspiciously. "Aren't you the

> teacher who

> says that everything is Brahman [the ultimate, supreme Reality],

> everything

> is God, there is no impurity anywhere?" she retorted bitterly. "If

I

> am not

> impure, why should I get out of your way? If I am the all pervading

> reality,

> how can I get out of your way?"

>

> Shankara was too shocked to reply.

>

> The woman was not done with him. "Your mighty Brahman is no more

than

> this!"

> she shouted, pointing to her dead husband.

>

> In that moment the great thinker's mind burst open. He remembered

one

> of the

> most dramatic images from India's vast religious iconography: the

> raging

> goddess Kali stamping on the corpse of the God Shiva. Without Her

> power,

> Shiva himself is not able to stir, say the Shaktas, the worshippers

> of the

> Goddess. In that fraction of a second, Shankara, realized that in

> neglecting

> the Goddess, he had missed the very essence of life. Imagining

> Brahman as

> totally abstract, unalloyed, unmoving consciousness, he had

forgotten

> the

> fecund, creative, active living aspect of reality, the feminine.

Now

> Kali

> herself was manifesting to remind him of her glory.

>

> To the horror of his disciples, Shankaracharya got down on his

knees

> and

> clasped the woman's feet, thanking her for the lesson. "No you are

not

> impure. It was my mind that was impure. I have never met a teacher

> greater

> than you."

>

> Shankara gave up writing philosophy and spent the last few years of

> his life

> composing ecstatic poems to the Goddess, some of which are still

> regarded as

> among the most beautiful verses in the Sanskrit language."

>

> Is this true,this contradicts the same incident where Shiva comes

in

> the form of a Hunter holding 4 dogs(representing the four vedas)

> And didnt Shankara compose 'Soundarya Lahari' much earlier to this

> incident ?

>

> thanks

> Ganesh